If you’ve ever had to prepare a house for sale, then you know just how busy a time it can be. Then, after weeks or months of home improvement, many homeowners take a step back, and look around at their newly repainted, decluttered, much improved space and wonder why they hadn’t done any of it prior to putting their house up on the market.
It can seem so easy to put in all of the time, money and effort to improve a home so that another family will fall in love with it. But what about your own family? What about you? Don’t you deserve to fall in love with your home again?
This year, make it a priority to prepare your home for sale …to yourself. Take on all of the home improving that many people do when preparing their home to be listed, photographed, and open for viewings, but do it all just for your own enjoyment.
Set the Stage
The best way to get started is to hire an expert to assess your home. Professional home stagers and interior designers are an excellent resource for this jumping off step. They can come in and completely assess your home, as they would for a client preparing to sell.
Many professionals will look at a variety of areas in need of improvement, including: decluttering and cleanup, room colours, furniture placement, and required repairs. Once your assessment has been completed, your pro can create a to-do list to help you remedy any trouble spots that may have been uncovered.
Decluttering is Key
Clearing your house of all of the excess is absolutely essential. Just think about how tired and sluggish you feel when you carry a few extra pounds on your body. Essentially, it’s the same way with your home.
Do a complete top to bottom declutter, and be ruthless. If you don’t use it or haven’t thought about it in a long time, get rid of it. You will be surprised by how much larger a home can appear when it isn’t jampacked with clutter.
Fix What is Broken
One of the first projects people take on when they’re getting ready to repair all of the little things that’ve been meaning to get to around the house. That leaky faucet, a broken cupboard, or a tub that’s been in desperate need of recaulking are all common household repairs that shouldn’t be neglected until the need to sell arises. You are just as deserving of a well-maintained home as any future buyers.
Give at Least One Room a Facelift
No matter what type of budget you may be working with, it’s a good idea to give at least one room a full makeover every once in a while. This can be as simple as repainting your master bedroom and buying a new bedding set to match, or as involved as finishing your basement. Either way, creating newness in your home will help you remember why you chose it in the first place.
